Why Mexico? I wanted to study in a Spanish-speaking country in Latin America. Mexico was perfect because it is relatively close to home (cheaper plane tickets!) and has a great climate, culture, and history. The Yucatán peninsula is unique from the rest of Mexico because of influences from the Caribbean and the indigenous Maya population, which can be seen in food, dress, architecture, music and dance, and language of the area. Not to mention, there are a ton of Mayan ruins, beaches, and cenotes nearby! Mérida is the capital of the Yucatán state and is an incredible colonial city with outstanding cultural centers and medical facilities, which interested me because of my major (I took a class on medical Spanish that included observations at clinics in the area). The program also included a 5-day trip to Havana, Cuba, which was a great experience, especially since tourism from the USA to Cuba is not very popular.

Was Mexico what you expected? I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this study abroad trip. Since the program was not run by Towson, I didn’t know anybody until meeting them in Mexico. This summer the program was unusually small- only three participants! Once I got there, I was pleasantly surprised as to how nice the IFSA staff and host moms were, and how easily I got along with the other girls in the program. The program was very individualized and we got to know each other really well, and the staff/host moms really went out of their way to help us out, answer any questions, and make sure we had a great time! We went on a lot of excursions both within and outside of Mérida that helped us get to know the area. We befriended some students studying tourism at the university, and they took us around town to see the nightlife in addition to day trips to cenotes and caves! All in all, my experiences exceeded my expectations, even though I wish I had longer than 6 weeks to stay in Mérida so I could have even more experiences.

What was your favorite place? It is so hard to choose a favorite spot, because I went so many places that I loved. My favorite excursion that we went on was to the Mayan ruins of Uxmal. Even though it is not as well-known as other ruins like Chichen-Itza, I liked it the most because it is really big and we were able to climb some of the structures. Another fun trip was when we went to a pueblo and visited 5 cenotes, which were all very unique. One of them was in a cave and we had to crawl through some really small spaces to get to it! My favorite place in Mérida itself was “La Parque de las Américas,” a huge park with fountains, statues, playgrounds, theaters, and lots of food stands selling things like marquesitas (hard crepes with Nutella and cheese) and elotes/esquites (corn with mayo and chile). I also loved spending time in the Starbucks on the main street in Mérida, called Paseo de Montejo, because it was a lot more elegant and fancy than any other Starbucks I had been to. Basically every place I visited, I loved!

What surprised you? The conditions of the pueblos surrounding Mérida were very shocking because there was a lot of poverty. The people living in these villages are mostly from indigenous Maya heritage, and their main job is farming. They still live in small huts, sleep in hammocks, and cook over an open fire. There are also a lot of really skinny stray dogs that run around and beg for food. It is sad and shocking for someone like me to see these towns because it is so different from what I am used to. But in general, these people are pretty self-sufficient and accept their simpler, more traditional way of life.

What was challenging for you? The first few days in Mérida were tough for me because of the transition into speaking and listening to Spanish all day. We had orientation all day, at night we went downtown, and the next morning we went to classes for six hours. I was overwhelmed and scared of having any interactions with locals if I was alone, so taking public transportation to and from school was really stressful for me at first. After classes the first week, I didn’t want to go out and I just stayed in the house with my host mom. Even though I had class with the other girls in the program, we didn’t know each other too well yet and were still adjusting so we didn’t organize any outings together. I told her about my concerns, and the host moms decided to get us all together and take us to a shopping mall. After this, the other girls and I went places together in the afternoons which helped me become more accustomed to the local life. Making friends with the tourism students helped even more because I got to interact with Spanish-speaking people my age in normal social settings.

What is your advice for students considering study abroad? My number one advice is to just do it! Yes, it can be very scary, especially if you haven’t travelled much before. Studying abroad will help you adapt to new and different situations, become less inhibited and more outgoing, and have a broader understanding of the world. If you are like me and can’t study abroad for a whole semester because of your major, or just aren’t sure if you want to spend a whole semester away from home, I definitely recommend a summer program of at least 6 weeks, because it takes time to adjust and to really start living/feeling like a local. The experiences you will have abroad will be memorable for a lifetime, and the city that you study in will always have a special place in your heart. This trip has changed and inspired me in so many ways, and I already want to go back to Mérida!

Mil gracias to Amy for her awesome feedback on a lesser known destination!

We are proud to announce that Harrison Hart, a TU senior majoring in Photography and minoring in EMF, was awarded a full program scholarship from The National Society of High School Scholars for this upcoming Fall 2015 voyage on Semester at Sea. He will spend 100 days visiting 13 cities in 11 different countries.

Q: How did you hear about the scholarship?

I heard about the scholarship through my email. I joined The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) back in my Sophomore year of high school and haven’t really had to do anything for them since – it was a one-time fee for the induction and that was it. Other than he induction, the only way I’ve heard from the NSHSS is through their emails that they send out every so often. The emails are usually about updates of the society, but I came across an email from them regarding scholarships. I clicked on it and the first scholarship was a full scholarship to Semester At Sea. Ever since freshman year I had always wanted to do Semester At Sea, but just didn’t think it was realistic from a financial standpoint. Once I saw this I immediately applied! In my application essay I described how it has been something I’ve wanted to participate in since the beginning of my college career. I talked about how you learn so much traveling and that traveling makes you a better-rounded person since you get to experience different cultures, languages, and cities. I had a list of so many countries that I wanted to study abroad in and I felt like it was more reasonable to do Semester At Sea to get a little taste of many countries in one semester rather than just one.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most about the program?

I am excited for the entire trip! This is a once in a life time opportunity that not many people get to experience. I can’t wait to visit all of these different countries. Since I am a photography major, I can’t wait to take a lot of pictures and capture the experience through my own lens. I am also really excited to meet a ton of new people from different colleges all over the world. I’m just excited to be involved in something totally different than what would happen at a university back home. Since there is a huge financial boost from NSHSS, I can focus my budget more towards sightseeing and extra activities to learn more about the countries aside from being in the classroom. Not many students can say they were dormed on a cruise ship, traveling all around the world, earning college credit for an entire semester. Being taught by teachers all around the world, being able to take different classes than offered at my university, all while sailing across the world – is something couldn’t imagine doing if it weren’t for NSHSS and Semester At Sea.

Q: How did the scholarship that you received help to make your study abroad experience a reality?

I’ve always heard about Semester At Sea through the study abroad fair and thought of it as the ultimate study abroad experience. My good friend and fraternity brother, Will Weise, actually went on Semester At Sea last year and he would rave about it was the best experience he’s ever had in life and in college. After listening to him talk about how phenomenal his trip was, and seeing this scholarship for a fully funded SAS trip, there was no point in me not applying. What was the worst that would happen, they say no? A couple weeks after applying, I got an email saying that I was the recipient of the NSHSS Semester at Sea Fall 2015 voyage – I was breathless! Since I’m a photographer that wants to travel the world for a living, what a perfect way to do so while still being in school getting college credit.

Q: What your plans for the future, and do they include any international aspirations?

My plans for the future are still up in the air. I know I want to be a professional photographer/videographer, but I don’t know what field of work I want to pursue – whether it be portraits, landscape, or event photography. I have my own non-profit organization that I co-founder with my brother in 2007, The South African Lacrosse Project, in which I go to South Africa every year to better the lives of kids affected/infected by HIV/AIDS through the sport of lacrosse. Through this project, I have been able to travel all over the world throughout grade school and college, giving me a more diverse outlook on the world. After college, I will continue going to South Africa along with traveling the world around me. Semester At Sea will give me a greater outlook on the world with experiencing 11 different countries and 13 cities.

Congratulations, Harrison! We look forward to seeing your amazing photos from around the world!

When deciding where to study abroad, what led you to choose your destination?

I have always wanted to study abroad in Israel. It wasn’t that I wanted to study abroad and then chose Israel. I knew that I wanted to study abroad here before I was even at Towson and made sure that all of the schools I applied to had study abroad programs to Israel.

Photo courtesy of Courtney N.

Has your destination met your expectations so far? Why or why not?

Israel is amazing. I learn so much every day. I tried to approach study abroad without expectation because that way there is no limit on your enjoyment, but my experience so far has exceeded everything.

What has surprised you about the culture or lifestyle of your destination?

I do not think I will ever get used to not having a Sunday. In Israel the weekend is really just an early end to Friday through Saturday because that is when Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath is. Thankfully, I do not have class on Sundays, so I am able to still get my full weekend. When it is the weekend here all public transportation, restaurants, stores, basically everything closes to observe the Sabbath. It is nice to have a day of rest and to hang out with friends.

Photo courtesy of Courtney N.

What challenges have you faced since arriving in your destination?

Language is definitely a challenge for me. While many people here do speak English, I am trying very hard to learn Hebrew. I have 10 hours of Hebrew courses a week, but I live with all English speakers, so I sometimes can’t practice my Hebrew as much as I would like. However, I am very good at shopping in Hebrew in the open air market.

What made you decide to study in Jerusalem over other locations, including ever-popular Tel Aviv?

Before I studied abroad in Israel for the semester I went on a program called Birthright, which is a ten day trip to Israel. I enjoyed my time in Tel Aviv, but it is very much a big city, and the “New York” of Israel. I instantly felt at home in Jerusalem and still do. Some people say that Jerusalem is the center of the world, and it truly amazing to see so many people with so many different backgrounds come to the same place.

Photo courtesy of Courtney N.

Did you or your family have any safety concerns about studying abroad in Israel?

Of course, but I wanted to study in Jerusalem and in Israel. If I were to not study where I wanted to, then the people that cause these security concerns will win. I try to live my life as I want to live it while I am here, though I definitely do think about where I go, how I dress and who I talk to wherever I am going. Last Friday, there was another terror attack at the light rail station, maybe a mile away from I live. I checked in with my parents and told them that I was fine and actually sleeping while it happened and went on with my plans for the day.

Did you select your program for the coursework? If so, are you taking an Israeli/Jewish studies courses, and what topics are they covering?

I am in a program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in their Rothberg School for International Students called the “Spring in Jerusalem” program. “Spring in Jerusalem” is an honors program in conjunction with Harvard University that has monthly lectures and requires you to take classes outside of the international school. I am taking two graduate level courses through this program, one called “Religion in Israeli Society”, and “Jewish Orientalism: Jews in the Orient.” I am also taking “Becoming Modern: An Introduction to Jewish History in the Modern Era,” and “Philosophy and Torah, Harmony and Dissonance: The Writings of Maimonides” through the undergraduate program.

Kelly Langford, a current senior, participated in last year’s faculty-led program in Greece with Dr. Ballengee. With the program going again this year, we thought it was a great time to speak with her about her experience.

Q: When choosing to study abroad, what led you to pick this program?

A: When I was a first year student I took a class with the program’s professor, Dr. Ballengee, and she would talk about the trip and encourage students to go. I knew then that this would be something I wanted to do in the future and remained in contact with Dr. Ballengee and maintained a fascination with Greece as a destination. As someone who is very busy during the semester the minimester faculty led program proved to be a good fit for my schedule and the stress of preparing for it was very minimal.

Q: Did your time in Greece meet or exceed your expectations? How?

My time in Greece blended together the ancient and the modern, allowing me to appreciate the rich history of the place while enjoying what the current culture has to offer. This experience exceeded expectations because of this multifaceted dynamic, climbing through ruins of ancient temples and then eating traditional dishes created an environment so much more than just a trip or vacation, it became a way to celebrate a culture and be a part of it.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of your experience in Greece?

To me the most rewarding part was really immersing myself in the culture. I tried to speak in Modern Greek to the staff at restaurants and hotels, order only Greek foods, and to take any opportunity to go on adventures either hiking mountains or navigating cities. Because I made the conscious decision to consistently push myself out of my comfort zone.

Q: Did this program suit you academically? How?

Academically, the program brings together literature, history, cultural studies, and rhetoric. As an English major with particular interest in politics and rhetoric, the program constantly challenged me to think about the underlying forces that create a nation, to question the way tourism acted as an agent and the role we played in this phenomenon. In addition to considering the business of tourism, the trip made me think about the rhetorical properties of history itself, the way a modern nation may use its history to achieve certain goals. Finally I was made to consider the way the myths of Ancient Greece had their own rhetorical functions and how they helped govern the people in ancient times and remain as an influential element today through literature. All of these concepts were so new to me and really changed the way I view the material I read, whether a poem or a history textbook, forcing me to put it into a larger context.

Q: What would you say to encourage prospective students to choose this program?

I would tell prospective students that this program has even more to offer than being a beautiful and exciting destination. For me Greece was this exotic place that I never dreamed I would be able to go to, so this program was a way to go somewhere that was truly impressive in every form of the word but also drastically different than anything I had been exposed to before. My time in Greece was filled with delicious food, fascinating museums and archeological sites, and explorations through beautiful beaches and bustling cities. It also was a way for me to learn lessons and understand academic material that I would not have been able to had it been taught in the United States.

I was born in Baltimore and raised north of the city in Monkton. I left home to attend Dartmouth College where I earned a B.A. in Art History modified with Studio Art. After college, I lived in New York City for several years, working in the publishing industry until I decided to go to graduate school and pursue Fine Art as my career. I ultimately went to Brooklyn College and received an MFA in Digital Art.

I’ve traveled a fair amount in Europe and have spent a lot of time in Italy. I think I’ve been there four times. The second and third were in college: once on a tour through the country with my singing group and another as a study abroad student. I studied Art History for a semester in Florence with my favorite professor, which was truly wonderful. I’ve also been to France, England, the Czech Republic, and, of course, Germany.

I studied French very intensely through my primary and secondary education and then when I got to college I started taking Italian classes. Recently I’ve attended German lessons at the Baltimore Kicker’s Club and the Goethe Institut.

I’ve been teaching Digital Art at the college level since 2006 at a variety of schools, including the University of Delaware, Rivier College, and UMBC. I’ve been at Towson since 2010.

Q: Why is Berlin unique for artists or individuals interested in art?

Berlin is the place to go in Europe if you are into art.

It is teeming with artists, musicians, filmmakers, museums, galleries, and alternative spaces. It’s a very international place as well—creative people come from all over the world to live there. The city has always been a center for alternative and artistic culture, but its recent rise to prominence in the art world happened after the fall of the Wall, when artists had access to cheap or free space that was vacated in the former Eastern sector. It’s been twenty-five years since that occurred, but the city still remains an extremely vibrant, inspiring, and affordable place to live and work.

Q: How will the individual projects benefit the students, what are some examples of projects they could choose?

For each project, students will be given a theme to respond to in any medium they choose. This allows students a lot of freedom to either continue developing a process they are already working with or explore new things. Each prompt connects to what we will be learning about and seeing at that particular time. The topics are: past/present, self/other, and local/global.

Q: What part of the itinerary are you most excited about?

I am thrilled to teach on site and not in the classroom. I can’t wait to introduce students to Berlin and the art it holds—much of which is very different from what they might have experienced in States. Some venues I’m most excited about are the Sammlung Boros Collection, the Me Collectors Room, and the Hamburger Bahnhof.

My favorite thing about teaching is the moment when students are completely amazed and excited by something they’ve never seen before or thought possible. There are going to be a lot of moments like that on this trip.

Q: What would you say to encourage prospective students to choose this program?

I think that this program will change your life and world perspective. I’m not kidding!

Q: Let’s start with the basics. Where are you, how long have you been there, and when do you plan on leaving (if you decide to leave!)?

A: Tel Aviv, Israel. Arrived July 5. Been here almost 4 months. Scheduled to leave on January 5.

Brian at the Kotel, also known as The Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.

Q:What’s a typical weekend like in Tel Aviv?

A: During the weekends, I’m usually soaking up the sun on the gorgeous beaches of Tel Aviv. By night, I’m enjoying the night life with friends in bars and clubs, and seeing live music. That is, if we didn’t decide to pick up and travel the country that weekend. Frequent weekend destinations outside Tel Aviv are Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.

Q: Out of all the moments you’ve had studying abroad so far, what is the absolute BEST moment you’ve had? Elaborate!

A: My absolute best study abroad moment so far was on the holiday of Simchat Torah. I went out with friends in Tel Aviv expecting a normal night out, but we came across a massive group of people dancing in the streets together, singing songs, and carrying and kissing a few Torah scrolls (as per holiday custom). We joined the masses which followed a van through a labyrinth of streets which led us to a concert hall with free admission. Here, a traditional band was playing Klezmer music (traditional Jewish music), hundreds, if not thousands, of people were celebrating together. We danced and sang all night.

Q: What was your “Aha!” moment? At what point did it kind of hit you that you are living in another country?

A: Once I started the intensive Hebrew courses I realized that I was not in America anymore. Everyone here can speak English, and had spoken English to me before I knew much Hebrew. But now that I try to talk to people in Hebrew and they answer back in Hebrew, there’s no question I’m in another country.

Brian at the old city Yafo, Israel, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the Tel Aviv skyline.

Q: If you were to leave tomorrow, what is it you would miss most about your host country?

A: The beauty of this country and the people that live in it. It is a country rich with culture, and everywhere you go you can see it and live it. Not to mention the weather and the beach, which I’m still enjoying here in late October.

Brian and a friend at Tel Baruch Beach in Ramat Aviv, Israel.

Q: What’s the most shocking thing that’s happened so far?

A: I entered Israel in a quite shocking time. It was the beginning of the war that occurred this summer in Israel. The war lasted 50 days, most of which I was here for. Three or four times a day I had to run to the bomb shelter because the sirens were going off, warning us that a rocket has been shot at Israel and it is projected to hit close to our vicinity. Three or four times a day for six weeks or so I had to race to the shelter. Each time I heard loud explosions, and about ten times I witnessed the actual rockets explode either in the air (thanks to Israel’s Iron Dome) or at sea.

Q: What’s the coolest place you’ve traveled to outside of the town or country you are studying in? What made it so amazing?

A: Outside of Tel Aviv, the coolest place I traveled to has got to be the Dead Sea. It is the lowest point on the earth and there is no other place like it. As many know, it’s called the Dead Sea (in English, Yam HaMelach in Hebrew which means Sea of Salt) because there is so much salt in it that neither plants nor animals can live there. When you go into the Dead Sea you are automatically sprung up by the salt water and you float. It’s truly amazing. Being in the Dead Sea is extremely relaxing and the legend is that the salt and mud from the sea is good for your cosmetics!

Name: Ebonie RavenellMajor: Animal Behavior and Biology major with a minor in PsychologyGrad Year: December 2015Program Abroad: University of Tasmania in Hobart Tasmania via the TU Exchange program

Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Queensland

Q: Food, your favorite subject & ours. Best dish? Worst dish? New recipe you picked up?
My favorite food from Australia were biscuits, what Americans called cookies. A brand called Tim Tams! I brought home 20 packs…I’m sort of like an addict. I have tried every flavor, some are better than others. My least favorite thing about Australia was Vegemite. It looks gross and tasted even worse.

Q: Did a local point you to a market, pub, or park you didn’t know about? Pass it on.
Some spots to definitely hit while in Hobart is Salamanca Market, Telegraph and Daci Daci. They have some of the best foods and drinks in the city!

Q: Weekends, full of travel. Where did you go? How did you choose? Was it difficult to plan?I only had classes three days a week so a four day weekend was amazing. I went on a lot of hiking trips! It was awesome, seeing all the beautiful views never got old. I went to the mainland and visited Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney. I knew for a fact that I wanted to go to Cairns because that’s where the Great Barrier Reefs are located. It was something I have wanted to do since I was seven years old. It was definitely a dream. It wasn’t hard to book, it was more of trying to find the cheapest alternatives of getting there. You never want to spend too much money if it’s not necessary. It’s really important to have a good budget for those sporadic trips with your friends.

Q: How is your study abroad experience different from your volunteer abroad experience?Volunteering abroad has been quite different than studying abroad for me. In Peru, my study abroad program helped coordinate my classes, my homestay, and excursions to travel within Peru. In Guatemala, I am much more independent- I found my own housing, pay rent and monthly bills, and do my own shopping and cooking. I enjoyed living with a host family in Peru- it was actually one of the aspects of the program I was most excited about and I believe it deepened the cultural experience I had. However, now that I have graduated college, I do appreciate being more autonomous and living on my own in Guatemala.

I had more free time as a study abroad student- I was able to arrange my schedule so I take a full course load but only have classes three days a week. This allowed me the freedom to travel throughout Peru and explore Lima- where I was living.

Here in Guatemala, I lead week long service-learning trips for Safe Passage. When I am leading a team, I work seven days a week from 7am until 10pm. When I do not have a team, it is a more typical Monday through Friday job.

Q: How did you choose your location for study abroad and later for volunteer abroad?To be perfectly honest, I had no specific country in mind when I decided to study abroad. I knew I wanted to be in Latin America, but other than that, I did not have a strong preference. I spoke to different people, did research on various programs, and decided on the program in Peru.

For volunteering abroad, I again knew I wanted to be in Latin America, but rather than choosing by country, I focused on the various programs and volunteer positions available. I used the website idealist.org and searched for positions in Latin America. When I came across the posting for Safe Passage, it seemed like a perfect fit for me. I was impressed with the work that Safe Passage was doing- working to empower the poorest, at-risk families of the community of the Guatemala City Garbage Dump by creating opportunities and fostering dignity through the power of education. I definitely lucked out by finding Safe Passage, it is an incredible organization and I truly feel honored to be a part of the work that is being done in Guatemala.

Q: What would you say to students worried / concerned / afraid of going abroad?Going abroad can be difficult- in terms of studying abroad, it is definitely easier to stay at Towson than go through all the logistics of coordinating a study abroad experience. But easier does not mean better.

The opportunity to live and study abroad is somewhat unique to college students. I actually never had planned to study abroad. It wasn’t until a conversation with a friend one day that changed my mind. We were chatting about her incredible year studying abroad. She asked if I would study abroad and I told her I was happy at Towson and extremely busy with different organizations on campus and I could just travel after graduating. She replied, “Sure you can. But will you?” It was then that something clicked and I realized that the opportunity for this type of experience would pass if I did not take it in college.

Utilize the study abroad office- it is a great resource to navigate the process. It is very unlikely that at any other time in your life you will have people dedicated to helping you travel, study abroad, and gain invaluable experiences.

My first trip to Honduras opened my eyes to extreme poverty and left me feeling empowered me make a difference- which is what motivated me to continue on this journey of volunteering in the world of international development. Going abroad in any capacity will hopefully get you out of your comfort zone, try new things, and allow you to gain a more global perspective of the world.

Major: Mass Communications Major with Tracks in Public Relations and Advertising as well as Minors in Business Administration and Marketing

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Program: TU Dublin Summer Internship Program

Q: You decided to pursue an internship abroad, how did you choose between studying and interning?

I wanted internship experience in my field different than my previous internships. As a senior, I thought it would be beneficial to expand my professional skills and experience by interning in another country. By interning in another country, not only did I get valuable work experience and expand my skill set, but I also experienced another culture.

Q: Did your internship meet your expectations in terms of work and office experience?

Yes! I loved my marketing internship with The Helix. Dublin is very similar to the United States in terms of work and office experience. The work days and hours were the same, as I worked full time Monday through Friday. The workplace culture varies in each workplace, and I found it very easy to fit in and become a part of my workplace culture. Marketing is a global industry and is used all over the world so I enjoyed learning how The Helix markets itself as not only a theatre, but a conference and events venue as well.

Q: Did you have any unique, challenging or surprising days on the job?

I did have the chance to attend the Data Driven Marketing Alliance’s Facebook Marketing Summit Europe. At this event, I attended two days of presentations on new ways to use social media to market your company as well as learned about various global companies that help track the performance of a social media campaign. As the world becomes more connected via the internet and mobile, many companies are shifting in that direction to reach its consumers.

Q: You obviously got to play and travel a bit, too! What was the best part about being based in Dublin?

Being based in Dublin, it was very easy to travel into the City Center and explore everything the city had to offer. Dublin is a huge city with so many historical landmarks and places to visit. It was fun to do the touristy things like the Guinness Storehouse Tour, the Jameson Distillery Tour, see the Dublin Castle, walk around St. Stephen’s Green, and do lots of shopping on Grafton Street. It was also very easy to travel to other parts of Ireland from Dublin. I spent every weekend either exploring the city of Dublin or visiting other parts of Ireland to see as much of the country as I possibly could!

Q: Will this internship experience contribute to your future career goals? How?

This internship experience definitely contributes to my future career goals. From this experience, I have been exposed to a new side of my field that I had not previously interned with. My eyes were opened to the various opportunities and careers available to me as a Mass Communications major. I learned a lot of new skills that I can bring with me to future internships and careers.

Q: Feel to add any parting words about your experience as an intern!

Interning abroad was the best way to spend seven weeks of my summer! I had an amazing experience learning about my field of study in another country and being immersed into a culture different than my own. I loved interacting with the locals and learning about their career goals. It was nice to be interacting and working with people who share the same passion for the mass communications and marketing industries. I loved having weekends free to explore Ireland and take as much as I could in!

Q: You decided to pursue an internship abroad, how did you choose between studying and interning?

The main reason why I chose to intern abroad rather than study abroad was that I could gain firsthand experience in my intended profession while also gaining a global perspective. Interning in Dublin would allow me to see what Actuaries do in Ireland compared to the United States. Also, the professional and educational experiences that I would gain from interning abroad would be beneficial to both my future career and my current education. I felt that interning would give me a more well-rounded study abroad experience through the professional, educational, and social aspects.

Q: Did your internship meet your expectations in terms of work and office experience?

My internship exceeded my expectations in terms of work and office experience. I was able to accurately complete tasks that I did not think I would be able to do without sufficient knowledge in the actuarial field. The employees took time to explain the task and provide me with the knowledge I needed. I gained an immense amount of knowledge about the actuarial field, business world, and social aspects of Ireland. This was my first internship and I feel that I learned so much about my intended profession and the country of Ireland at the same time.

Trim Castle

Q: Did you have any unique, challenging or surprising days on the job?

Some of my most unique, challenging, or surprising days on the job occurred during my first week at my internship. Most of the difficulties came from trying to adjust to the culture, learning the new words/ phrases, and adapting to the high speed talking. Due to the fast paced talking speed, I had a huge challenge in decoding what the Irish were saying to me. There were times when I would be in a group of people and they would talk so fast to one another that I was convinced they were speaking another language. Also, when I was asked to do certain tasks, some of the words that were used were words I had never heard or seen before, so I had to consistently for clarification.

Q: You obviously got to play and travel a bit, too! What was the best part about being based in Dublin?

The best part about being placed in Dublin was that I could easily spend hours wandering around the city always finding a new place or travel anywhere within the country in about 4 to 5 hours max. There were certain days that my sister and I would go into to Dublin on a weekend afternoon to just explore, wander aimlessly, and somehow always find our way back to an area we recognized. I also really enjoyed that I could travel so easily from Dublin. There were airports, train stations, bus stops, and the tram that could take you all around Dublin and throughout the country of Ireland.

Gaelic Football Game

Q: Will this internship experience contribute to your future career goals? How?

I strongly believe that my internship abroad experience will contribute to my future career goals. In Dublin, I was an actuarial intern for an insurance company and as a Mathematics major with a concentration in Actuarial Science and Risk Management, my future career goal is to become an actuary. My internship displayed what actuaries do on a daily basis. Being able to experience another country’s mathematics industry helped to build my knowledge both professionally and academically which benefits both my future career and current education. I also made international connections within my intended profession that can help me to further my future career goals.

Q: Feel to add any parting words about your experience as an intern!

Take the opportunity to intern abroad! You not only learn about the country, but you also learn about your profession in another country. Being able to intern abroad will give you the benefits of studying abroad while also allowing you to globally broaden your professional connections.